Bird receives community award from Anderson University

The award was part of the annual President’s Dinner for fellows and sponsors at Anderson University. The dinner is a chance for the school to honor community members who have made a positive impact on the campus and beyond.

This year, Bird was specifically honored for the work he has done with several organizations in Anderson beyond the school. AU President James Edwards introduced Bird to a room in the Olt Student Center filled with 275 guests. [Photo: Bob Coffman, vice president of advancement, Henry Bird, and President Dr. James L. Edwards]

Edwards touched on Bird’s history, specifically noting that he came to Indiana in 1992, around the same time Edwards took over as president.

“Our friendship started there,” Edwards said.

He said wherever Bird went, from Ireland to Montana to Wisconsin and finally to Indiana, he always served the community. In the Anderson area, Edwards mentioned Bird’s work with the United Way, Special Olympics and the YMCA, just to name a few.

“Henry has been an active community leader,” Edwards said. “Thank you for your tireless support of the community. We would not be the same community without so much caring.”

Bird thanked Edwards and everyone else in the room.

“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award,” Bird said. “Especially when I look at all those that have won this award before me.”

He said he was lucky to live in a place like Anderson, which has a strong sense of community involvement thanks to the school.

“We are blessed to have this incredible jewel of Anderson University in this town,” Bird said. “I’ve always been amazed with how involved everyone on this campus is.”

The dinner was also a time for Edwards to address some of the changes that have been going on at the university in the last few weeks. Recently, it was announced the school would be cutting three majors.

Edwards assured those in the room that the school was fine and would continue to grow down the road. Although three majors are leaving, he specifically mentioned the growth of the nursing and engineering programs as signs the school would continue to attract students.

“We have a bright future,” Edwards said. “This school has very deep roots and will continue to flourish.”

— Zach Osowski is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin. Photo credit: Dale Pickett. Story republished with permission.